Bailey's Blog

On Sunday 25 May I finished "A Short History of France" by Mary Platt Parmele (1843-1911). I could not put it down!

We enjoyed listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in "Music & the Spoken Word" as we got ready for church as well as our departure after church for Florida.

We arrived early to get set up for Primary Sharing Time which is the last hour and Eileen is conducting it this month. She had her laptop set up and I downloaded a video by a youth about the Conference Center which she will show. The link for the video is as follows: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-12-10-conference-center?category=children/year-on-temple-square&lang=eng

Opening hymn was "God of Our Fathers," #78, with the delightful opening fanfare.

Our sacrament hymn was "Jesus, Once of Humble Birth," #196, which was written by early church leader Parley P. Pratt.

Parley P. Pratt (1807-1857)

Our first speaker was Sister Melody Hailstone, the stake seminary supervisor. She is from the Allatoona Ward. "Become true disciples of the Master." She quoted President Dieter F. Uchtdorf.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

She spoke about Scripture Mastery. She cited a number of verses from all of the Standard Works. "Qualify for the blessings of the temple." "Preparing ourselves and others for eternal life." Seminary is the great locker room of high school where you can put on the armor of God. "We are living in enemy territory." She quoted Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin. That is why there is so much about war in the Book of Mormon. Build our foundation on Christ.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917-2008)

Our intermediate hymn was "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," #339, which chokes up many of us.

Our next speaker was Brother Don Mason of the stake high council. D&C 21. This revelation was received during the Prophet Joseph's talk on 6 April 1830 following the administration of the sacrament. As he was inspired, he told his clerk to "write this." Brother Mason bore his testimony of the callings of our stake and branch presidency. When we are obedient to the servants of the Lord, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against us." "The heavens shall shake for [our] good." Harvest of pecans. D&C 8. Understanding (mastering) scriptures can help us recollect them. Moses delivered the children of Israel. Abraham gathered people who wound up in Egypt. In every dispensation the Lord has gathered His people. Jeremiah 16. Bringing His children from the land of the North, the gathering of Israel in these last days will replace Moses delivering the children of Israel in the eyes of the world. The fishers and hunters are the missionaries today. Keeping our covenants today give us the right to the gift of the Holy Ghost. Abraham 2. We are the children of Abraham. He bore his testimony that Christ lives.

Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. (1805-1844)

Brother Chester bore his testimony of seminary.

The closing hymn was "The Lord Be With Us," #161. The music was written by Brother Tracy Y. Cannon who was an American Latter-day Saint musician and composer. His father was early church leader President George Q. Cannon.

Tracy Y. Cannon (1879 – 1961)

President George Q. Cannon (1827-1901)

I attended Gospel Doctrine class which is on the Old Testament this year taught by Sisters Darlene Burgess and Claire Bowen. Today was lesson 19 entitled "The Reign of the Judges" using Judges 2; 4; 6–7; 13–16 taught by Sister Burgess. The purpose of the lesson was to encourage class members to seek influences that will strengthen them in living the gospel in a challenging world.

Our hymn in priesthood was "We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet." Brother Curtis Bond taught our priesthood lesson which was the talk given by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in last October's General Conference entitled "Decisions for Eternity." "The wise use of your freedom to make your own decisions is crucial to your spiritual growth, now and for eternity." "Civil governments are heavily influenced by social trends and secular philosophies as they write, rewrite, and enforce laws. Regardless of what civil legislation may be enacted, the doctrine of the Lord regarding marriage and morality cannot be changed. Remember: sin, even if legalized by man, is still sin in the eyes of God!"

Elder Russell M. Nelson

Sharing Time went well for Eileen. We changed clothes in church and headed south at 1:19 pm. We stopped for lunch/supper at 4:50 at the Cracker Barrel in Cordele, GA. It was unusually quiet there!

On the wall by our table

As we neared exit 82 on I-75 we snapped a picture of the giant peanut!

We got gas in Valdosta at Sam's Club for $3.399. Like Cracker Barrel it was very quiet, though Walmart next door looked busier. We were only delayed once just south of Atlanta by an accident until we got into Florida where we hit some bad weather. Heavy rain caused me to put on my flashers occasionally. We reached Russell's about 8:30 and it was still raining gently.

Clouds along the way on I-75

Russell's place in Brooker

In Russell's front yard

We unloaded the trunk and Eileen at once began making her crawfish étouffée which is actually a recipe from our daughter Heather's friend Keri Petersen in Raleigh.

crawfish étouffée

On Monday 26 May we were on our way by 9 am. We filled up at Love's in Ocala for $3.599. This is cheap for Florida! When we got on I-75 in Alachua, two gas stations nearby were both $3.869!

As we drove south the gas prices along the Florida Turnpike ranged from $3.499 to $3.739! A lot different than on the New Jersey Turnpike where the prices along there are all the same. I got more gas for $3.539 in St. Cloud on the Turnpike. So some prices along the Turnpike are cheaper than at home while others are exorbitant! The prices around Sue's are generally in the upper $3.60s with Costco the cheapest at $3.559. Eileen bought us wraps for lunch from the Nature's Table facility at the Canoe Creek Service Plaza which we ate en route.

Along Florida's Turnpike

Airboat seen along Florida's Turnpike

We arrived at Sue and David's about 2:40 pm.

David and Sue Opatosky's in Sunrise, Florida

I called Henry and Marjorie Douwes in Palm Coast, Florida, to wish Henry a happy birthday. Marjorie is my mother's first cousin.

We got together for dinner at Matt and Kristen Bossé's home with Eileen's crawfish étouffée. Sue and David stayed home, but our granddaughter Megan, Eileen's brother Russ, his wife Gail, son Ryan, our daughter Heather, her husband Tom, and our grandson Liam were there as well as the three younger Bossé's. Kristen is Russ and Gail's daughter.

Matt and Kristen Bossé's home in Davie

Matt and Kristen Bossé's home

I finished "A Short History of Spain" by Mary Platt Parmele. It was shorter than that of France and also very good.

I finished reading the 23 February issue of the Church News. There were a lot of excellent articles. Of particular interest were the articles about the Gilbert Arizona Temple, the California drought, and the rains inundating parts of England. There was a good article by Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women general president. She quoted from the "Church Handbook 2: Administering the Church" which states, "Parents have the primary responsibility for helping their children know Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Latter-day Saint fathers and mothers have been commanded to teach gospel doctrines, ordinances, covenants, and ways of righteous living to their children. Children who are so reared and taught are more likely to be prepared at the appropriate age to receive priesthood ordinances and to make and keep covenants with God.” I posted this on Facebook.

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson

On Tuesday 27 May we took Sue to the three Carl's Furniture Stores in the area that are going out of business looking for a recliner that she likes. No luck :(

Carl's in Pompano Beach

Carl's in Fort Lauderdale

Eileen made a yummy pasta dish for supper from the "Queen Creek Olive Mill Family Cookbook" that she got when we visited Colleen in Arizona last month. It is called "Spaghetti all'Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino!" Eileen used fettuccine.

Queen Creek Olive Mill Family Cookbook

Spaghetti all'Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino

On Wednesday 28 May we took Sue in the morning to her oncology appointment with Dr. Belette. Along the way we passed an odd-looking Presbyterian megachurch.

Broward Health Imperial Point

Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church

When we got back home Sue lay down and Eileen enjoyed watching Kelsey Nixon, Giada de Laurentiis, and Ina Garten on the Food Channel while I finished my 11 May blog entry.

Kelsey Nixon

Robby Egan and Kelsey Nixon wed in the Bountiful Temple

Giada de Laurentiis

Ina Garten

We both received our emails from FamilySearch to subscribe to Ancestry, Findmypast, and MyHeritage! We both did it with no problem. However it appears that Findmypast does not provide the same level of subscription as the one that I am paying for.

Supper was a delicious dish of pasta, cabbage, carrots, and garlic by David to which Eileen added the bratwurst and olive oil. It was yummy!

I finished reading "Bull Hunter" by Max Brand which I began on 17 April. Max Brand is the pen name for Frederick Schiller Faust.

Max Brand (1892-1944)

On Thursday 29 May Eileen was on the phone with Ancestry about her family tree in her new subscription. She was able to copy her family tree from FamilyTreeMaker to her new Ancestry family tree. She ordered the updated FamilyTreeMaker.

I had fun looking at "hints" in Ancestry for the Darrell's, Frith's, and Manuel's.

We visited the La-Z-Boy store in Ft. Lauderdale and bought a nice almond color leather recliner that should be delivered on Saturday. The sales lady said "yes" to my two Book of Mormon questions!

Sales floor

Writing up our order

I filled up on the way home in Oakland Park for $3.559 at Valero. They have new pumps that are "the pits." The card goes in horizontally rather than vertically and the keypad is totally black without visible numbers!

We enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves - Boston Red Sox game although we were upset as the Braves defense fell apart in the bottom of the 8th inning allowing the Red Sox to tie the game at 3-3. Then the defense continued badly as the Red Sox won 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th!

On Friday 30 May I finished the blog entry for the week of 18 May and published it.

We enjoyed lunch at Panera Bread in Sunrise with Sue and Megan.

Panera Bread in Sunrise

Megan in Panera Bread

We took Sue home and then went to Mita's Hallmark for birthday cards (they did not have Asher's Chocolates :( and Publix for groceries.

Mita's Hallmark

Eileen en route to Publix

Cute shirt!

We had fun chatting with Ben age 81 and Bobbie age 78 who were demonstrating Aidell meatballs. We bought two different packages. I should have gotten a picture of Ben and Bobbie. They were cute in their Aidell outfits!